This was the first backpacking trip for my wife and I together. At the time we were just dating, and we both had a great time on the backpack. We even ventured down to one of the nearby lakes and at one point were surrounded by 50 bighorn sheep as we climbed out of the lake basin. Wonderful place!

This was a very long drive for us to get all the way to New Mexico's highest point, but it turned out to be well worth it. Fun steep route, great exercise and great vistas, not to mention all the wildlife we saw and many interesting wildflowers back down in the forest.
We made it down just before a massive thunderstorm developed.
I hear this route to Wheeler does not usually get very crowded compared to the standard route. Indeed, we met only two other hikers by the lake.

Backpacked into the Williams lake area and stayed in forest to the right of the trail where good camping is to be found. Went up easy to follow herd-path to summit and back. RT time 3 hours. Definitely the quickest way up and back and despite SP page on this route it was very scenic. Be aware that this is alot of construction in the trailhead area, especially roadwork.

Daughter Vanessa and I climbed a week or two after the ski area closed in 1993. There was a nice set of steps up from the gully, evidently set by a couple of backcountry skiers the previous day. The summit ridge was socked in, and we couldn't see a thing. In fact at one point we got disoriented in a spot where the ridge flattened out a lot, and had to pull out the compass to figure out which direction to continue on the ridge. That problem solved, just kept on the ridge until we found the plaque! Wheeler was number 40 of my 49 state high points, and number 39 for my daughter Vanessa, the last of the SHPs we did together.

I wanted to enjoy the trip, so I carried a bag and tent, shooting for overnighting in La Cal basin. But had to bivy in the lower trees at about 5pm to endure an all-night thunderstorm. Got up at 5 to more threatening clouds, but had sun on the summit at 7am.
The summit register is full... take up a new one if you're going?

On honeymoon in Taos. Wife and I hiked from Phoenix Restaurant up to Williams Lake, where she stopped and enjoyed the sun and scenery. I continued up from lake to saddle and over to summit. The route from the lake is steep but short and can be accomplished quickly if you are in great shape (not me) OR don't mind gasping (me). Started from lake at 1135am and back at 145pm with 10 mins on top. Late but luckily beat thunder, which held off until 400pm (when we were down eating chili in the valley). Around the basin there seem to be many mountains with more challenging routes, but this is a great option if time is limited and you are looking for a straightforward route. (Note: only occasional [avoidable] small snow patches were left; summer conditions.)

Started out around 10pm and reached the fork past Bull of the Woods. Spent a frigid night, due more to the wind chill then the actual temperature, watching the tent shudder in the wind. At the crack of light we broke camp and continued our hike, reached several large snow packs, that made us break out the axes. As we approached La Cal Basin, thought it would be quicker to traverse the ridgeline. This made for a much shorter direct route. However we did encounter a very slippery scree/talus slope near the top of La Cal Basin. Was a crystal clear day, we could see for miles once we reached Wheeler Peak. Glissaded on our behinds all the way down Williams Lake slope. Stopped to eat underneath the tree line. Is a quick hike from Williams Lake. Great hike.

I climbed Wheeler back in the 1960's . At that time we had the ability to drive to Bull of the Woods , before you enter the wilderness area. Then Nixon declared it all a wilderness area. He also gave the land South of Wheeler back to the Indians. No gripe here about that. I just miss going to see the beautiful area of Blue Lake.